Play per view

ABSTRACT

A disclosed gaming machine provides a gaming machine with devices able to output entertainment content (e.g. movies, TV programming, audio programs and advertising) from entertainment content sources located within the gaming machine or outside of the gaming machine. A player utilizing the gaming machine may access, independently of game play, entertainment content on the gaming machine where access to the entertainment content is granted according to a predetermined fee. In addition, the player utilizing the gaming machine may receive personal messages on the gaming machine. For example, while utilizing the gaming machine, a player may receive, e-mail, stock quotes, news and advertising that is of particular interest to the player utilizing the gaming machine.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

The present application claims priority under U.S.C. 120 and is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/665,526, titled“PLAY PER VIEW” filed on Sep. 19, 2000, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety and for all purposes

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to entertainment content for gaming machines suchas slot machines and video poker machines. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to methods of providing entertainment contentto a player playing a game on the gaming machine.

As technology in the gaming industry progresses, the traditionalmechanically driven reel slot machines are being replaced withelectronic counterparts having CRT, LCD video displays or the like.These video/electronic gaming advancements enable the operation of morecomplex games, which would not otherwise be possible onmechanical-driven gaming machines. Gaming machines such as slot machinesand video poker machines are becoming increasingly popular. Part of thereason for their increased popularity is the nearly endless variety ofgames that can be implemented on gaming machines utilizing advancedelectronic technology.

There are a wide variety of associated devices that can be connected toa gaming machine such as a slot machine or video poker machine. Someexamples of these devices are lights, ticket printers, card readers,speakers, bill validators, ticket readers, coin acceptors, displaypanels, key pads, coin hoppers and button pads. Many of these devicesare built into the gaming machine or components associated with thegaming machine such as a top box which usually sits on top of the gamingmachine.

Typically, utilizing a master gaming controller, the gaming machinecontrols various combinations of devices that allow a player to play agame on the gaming machine and also encourage game play on the gamingmachine. For example, a game played on a gaming machine usually requiresa player to input money or indicia of credit into the gaming machine,indicate a wager amount, and initiate a game play. These steps requirethe gaming machine to control input devices, including bill validatorsand coin acceptors, to accept money into the gaming machine andrecognize user inputs from devices, including key pads and button pads,to determine the wager amount and initiate game play. After game playhas been initiated, the gaming machine determines a game outcome,presents the game outcome to the player and may dispense an award ofsome type depending on the outcome of the game.

For gaming machine operators, an important aspect of operating a gamingmachine is determining the game playing habits of individual gameplayers. When the game playing habits of an individual player are known,the gaming machine operator may provide incentives corresponding to thegame playing habits of the individual game player to encourageadditional game play. For example, the gaming machine operator mayprovide an individual player with coupons for free meals, free rooms ordiscounted game play depending on their game playing habits.

Typically, on a casino floor with many gaming machines as players leaveand enter the gaming area, many gaming machines remain idle while othergaming machines are being utilized by players playing games. When idle,a gaming machine does not generate revenue for the owner of the gamingmachine. Thus, gaming hardware or methods that 1) encourage additionalgame play on a gaming machine or 2) generate revenue independent of thegame play on a gaming machine, are always sought after by gaming machineoperators. In addition, the hardware or methods may not be related tothe game play. For example, for gaming machines with an electronic videodisplay screen, showing advertisements has been proposed as a means ofgenerating additional revenue when the gaming machine is not in use.

In view of the above, using the advanced technology of current gamingmachines, it would be desirable to provide method and apparatus that 1)generate revenue when the gaming machine is not being used for game playand 2) encourage additional game play on the gaming machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention addresses the needs indicated above by providing a gamingmachine able to output entertainment content (e.g. movies, TVprogramming, audio programs and advertising) from entertainment contentsources located within the gaming machine or outside of the gamingmachine. A player utilizing the gaming machine may access, independentlyof game play, entertainment content on the gaming machine where accessto the entertainment content is granted according to a predeterminedfee. In addition, the player utilizing the gaming machine may receivepersonal messages on the gaming machine. For example, while utilizingthe gaming machine, a player may receive, e-mail, stock quotes, news andthat is of particular interest to the player on the gaming machine.

One aspect of the present invention provides a gaming machine withaccess to entertainment content sources. The gaming machine may becharacterized as including the following elements: 1) a display device,2) a master gaming controller that controls one or more games played onthe gaming machine and presents a game outcome presentation on saiddisplay device, 3) at least one input device for selecting theentertainment content source, and 4) at least one output deviceconfigured to output entertainment content from the selectedentertainment content source, wherein the entertainment content isindependent of the game outcome presentation presented on the gamingmachine. The games played on the gaming machine may include a video slotgame, a mechanical slot game, a video pachinko game, a video poker gameor a keno game.

In specific embodiments, the output device may include a soundprojection device, a monitor, an LCD, a fluorescent display, a pair ofheadphones, or a head-mounted video display. The entertainment contentsource may include a CD player, an FM/AM tuner, a VHS player, a DVDplayer, a TV tuner, a musical jukebox, a video jukebox, a computer, aserver, or a media software application. The input device may include atleast one of a key pad, a touch screen, a mouse, a joystick and inputbutton and a track ball. The entertainment content may include anadvertisement, news, stock quotes, electronic mail, a web page, amessage service, a locator service and a hotel/casino service, a movie,a musical selection or a broadcast event.

In other embodiments, the entertainment content is accessible when agame play is initiated on the gaming machine. The access to theentertainment content may be time dependent upon an indicia of creditamount, a wager amount, or a game playing history. Alternatively, theentertainment content may be provided according to a player informationprofile. The entertainment content may be displayed on the displaydevice while the game outcome presentation is displayed on the displaydevice or the entertainment content may displayed on the output devicewhile the game outcome presentation is displayed on the display device.Further, the input device may be used to control a feature of theentertainment content.

Another aspect of the present invention enables a method of providingentertainment content on a gaming machine providing game outcomepresentations for one or more games. The method may be characterized asincluding: 1) displaying a list of one or more entertainment contentsources, 2) receiving a selection of the entertainment content sourcefrom said list and 3) outputting the entertainment content from theselected entertainment content source to an output device, where theentertainment content is independent of the game outcome presentationfor the one or more games. Additionally, the method may include, a)prior to outputting the entertainment content, determining an indicia ofcredit amount for the selected entertainment content source, b)displaying a message on the display device notifying a player of therequired indicia of credit amount and c) initiating the selectedentertainment content when the required indicia of credit amount isavailable on the gaming machine or i) prior to receiving the selection,receiving player tracking information and ii) allowing access to theentertainment content sources based upon the player trackinginformation.

In more specific embodiments, the method may include a) determining atotal access time to the entertainment content source based upon playertracking information, a wager amount on a game or a indicia of creditamount deposited into the gaming machine and b) comparing an access timeto the entertainment source to the total access time and terminatingaccess to the entertainment content source when the access time exceedsthe total access time. Further the method may include, a) prior todisplaying the list of entertainment content sources, loadinginformation enabling the entertainment content to the entertainmentcontent sources or b) displaying entertainment content on the outputdevice while displaying the game outcome presentation on a displaydevice where the output device and the display device are the samedevice.

Another aspect of the present inventions provides a method for sending apersonal message to a player playing a game on a gaming machine. Themethod may be generally characterized as including: a) receiving playeridentification information from the player playing the game on thegaming machine, b) sending the player identification information to aserver wherein the server assigns an communication identifier to thegaming machine, c) receiving a personal message from at least oneinformation source located outside the game machine for the playerplaying the game on the gaming machine identified by the playeridentification information and d) outputting the personal message forthe player playing the game on the gaming machine to an output device.The player identification information may be player tracking informationand the gaming machine communication identifier may be an IP address.The personal message may be from another player, a hotel employee or acasino employee. Additionally, the personal message may be selectedaccording to a player profile for the player playing the game on thegaming machine where the personal message is stock quotes, news, prizeinformation, or advertisements of interest to the player playing thegame on the gaming machine.

These and other features of the present invention will be presented inmore detail in the following detailed description of the invention andthe associated figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of a gaming machine for one embodimentof this invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a gaming machines connected to anentertainment content network.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the inside of a gaming machine having a topbox and other devices.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart depicting a method for providing entertainmentcontent independent of the game outcome presentation on a gamingmachine.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart depicting a method for sending a personal messageto a player playing a game on the gaming machine.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart depicting a method for enhancing player intereston a gaming machine by providing entertainment content.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning first to FIG. 1, a video gaming machine 2 of the presentinvention is shown. Machine 2 includes a main cabinet 4, which generallysurrounds the machine interior (not shown) and is viewable by users. Themain cabinet includes a main door 8 on the front of the machine, whichopens to provide access to the interior of the machine. Attached to themain door are player-input switches or buttons 32, a coin acceptor 28,and a bill validator 30, a coin tray 38, and a belly glass 40. Viewablethrough the main door is a video display monitor 34 and an informationpanel 36. The main display monitor 34 will typically be a cathode raytube, high resolution flat-panel LCD, or other conventionalelectronically controlled video monitor. The gaming machine 2 includes atop box 6, which sits on top of the main cabinet 4. A second displaymonitor 42 may be provided in the top box. The second display monitormay also be a cathode ray tube, high resolution flat-panel LCD or otherconventional electronically controlled video monitor.

Typically, after a player has initiated a game on the gaming machine,one purpose of the main display monitor 34 and the second displaymonitor 42 is the visual display of a game outcome presentation,including bonus games, controlled by a master gaming controller 324(FIG. 3). Also, the main display monitor 34 and the second displaymonitor 42 may also be utilized to display entertainment contentindependent of the game outcome presentation. For example, broadcastevents, including television programming, may be provided to the maindisplay monitor 34 and the secondary display monitor 42 via a cable linkor other suitable link from outside of the gaming machine. All or somesubset of the programming provided by a television broadcaster may bedisplayed as entertainment content on one or both of the video displays.Television programming content of particular interest to casinooperators and game players may include, for example, sporting events,talk shows, game shows, soap operas, advertisements, situation comedies,etc. In addition, broadcasts of competitive events on which the playercan wager may be displayed. For example, dog racing or horse racingevents may be displayed as content on the video display. In such events,there is typically a rather long down time between races. During thisperiod, the player may play the gaming machine. Then, when a racebegins, the player focuses his or her attention on that event withoutneeding to leave his position at the gaming machine. Also, thetelevision programming entertainment content may be displayed while aplayer is engaged in playing a game on the gaming machine or betweengames. Similarly, the entertainment content may include informationavailable on the Internet, including the World Wide Web, for moretechnologically sophisticated players.

Returning to the gaming machine in FIG. 1, the information panel 36 maybe a back-lit, silk screened glass panel with lettering to indicategeneral game information including, for example, the number of coinsplayed. The bill validator 30, player-input switches 32, video displaymonitor 34, and information panel are devices used to play a game on thegame machine 2. The devices are controlled by the master gamingcontroller, housed inside the main cabinet 4 of the machine 2. Manypossible games, including traditional mechanical slot games, video slotgames, video poker, video pachinko and keno, may be provided with gamingmachines of this invention.

The top box 6 houses a number of devices, which may be used to addfeatures to a game being played on the gaming machine 2, includingspeakers 10, 12, 14, a ticket printer 18 which prints bar-coded tickets20, a key pad 22, a florescent display 16 and a card reader 24 forentering a magnetic striped cards. The speakers may be used to projectsound effects as part of a game outcome presentation. The key pad 22,the florescent display 16 and the card reader 24 may be used for toenter and display player tracking information. As another example, theplayer may enter playing tracking information and identificationinformation using the card reader 24 and the main video display 34 wherethe main video display may be used as a touch screen to enterinformation. Player tracking information may be entered into the gamingmachine before a player initiates a game on the gaming machine.Typically, the player's incentive to enter player tracking informationinto the gaming machine 2 is potential rewards related to the amount ofa player's game play.

In addition to enabling player tracking services, the key pad 22, theflorescent display 16 and the card reader 24 may be used to enteridentification information that enables a player to access entertainmentcontent or receive personal messages on the gaming machine independentof a game play and game outcome presentation on the gaming machine 2.For example, a player may enter a personal identification number intothe gaming machine 2 using the key pad 22 that allows the player toreceive entertainment content such as viewing a movie or a broadcastevent. As another example, after entering the personal identificationnumber, the player may be allowed to receive a personal messageindicating a table is ready at a restaurant in the casino or to receivea personal message containing information on a sporting event such as ascore of personal interest to the player utilizing the gaming machine.

The identification information may be separate from the player trackinginformation, may be ascertained from the player tracking information ormay be in addition to the player tracking information entered into agaming machine by the player utilizing a gaming machine. For example,the player may utilize an identification number as the identificationinformation that is independent of any player tracking informationentered into the gaming machine. The identification number may allow aplayer to receive a particular personal message (e.g. a dinnerreservation is ready) or a number of personal messages during a certaintime period.

In addition to the devices described above, the top box 6 may containdifferent or additional devices than shown in the FIG. 1. For example,the top box may contain a bonus wheel or a back-lit silk screened panelwhich may be used to add bonus features to the game being played on thegaming machine. During a game, these devices are controlled and powered,in part, by circuitry (not shown) housed within the main cabinet 4 ofthe machine 2. Understand that gaming machine 2 is but one example froma wide range of gaming machine designs on which the present inventionmay be implemented. For example, not all suitable gaming machines havetop boxes or player tracking features. Further, some gaming machineshave two or more game displays—mechanical and/or video, while others aredesigned for bar tables and have displays that face upwards. Those ofskill in the art will understand that the present invention, asdescribed below, can be deployed on most any gaming machine nowavailable or hereafter developed.

Returning to the example of FIG. 1, when a user selects a gaming machine2, he or she inserts cash through the coin acceptor 28 or bill validator30. Additionally, the bill validator may accept a printed ticket voucherwhich may be accepted by the bill validator 30 as an indicia of credit.Once cash has been excepted by the gaming machine, it may be used toplay a game on the gaming machine. Typically, the player may use all orpart of the cash entered into the gaming machine to make a wager on agame play. Depending on the amount of the wager on a game or for a fee,a player may be able to access various entertainment content sources fora length of time. For example, a wager on a game above a certainthreshold amount may enable a player to watch a broadcast event or toaccess the World Wide Web for up to 5 minutes on the gaming machine 2.In addition, cash or indicia of credit entered into the gaming machinemay be used to purchase entertainment content independent of a wagermade on a game on the gaming machine. For example, for a 10 dollar fee,a player may view a movie on the gaming machine. While watching themovie on the gaming machine, the player may play games on the gamingmachine or just watch the movie.

During the course of a game, a player may be required to make a numberof decisions which affect the outcome of the game. For example, a playermay vary his or her wager, select a prize, or make game-time decisionswhich affect the game play. These choices may be selected using theplayer-input switches 32, the main video display screen 34 or using someother device which enables a player to input information into the gamingmachine including a key pad, a touch screen, a mouse, a joy stick, amicrophone and a track ball.

When a game is not being played on the gaming machine or duringparticular game operational modes, the player may select anentertainment content source using the above mentioned inputs where theentertainment content is independent of a game being played on thegaming machine. The entertainment content source may include, forinstance, a CD player, an FM/AM tuner, a VHS player, a DVD player, a TVtuner, a musical jukebox, a video jukebox, a computer, a server and amedia software application. It will be appreciated, however, that anyinformation source may be utilized.

Before playing a game, a player may select the video jukebox, which maycontain a DVD player loaded with many DVDs, as the entertainment contentsource and preview a movie on at least one of the display screens on thegaming machine 2. The DVDs may be stored on the gaming machine 2 or in acentral location separate from the gaming machine. The visual display ofthe output from the video jukebox may be viewed by the player on themain video display screen 34 or the secondary video display screen 42.The sound for the movie may be projected by the speakers 10, 12 and 14on the gaming machine or a player may listen to the movie throughheadphones. The entertainment content received on the headphones mayalso be enabled through a wireless or wired communication interface tothe gaming machine or some other device located within the casino.

The game player may also use the player input switches 32, key pad 22,and other input devices to control a feature of the entertainmentcontent. For example, when the entertainment content is a movie, theplayer input switches 32 and key pad may be operated to fast forward,stop or pause the movie. When the entertainment content is accessing theWorld Wide Web through a web-browser, the player input switches 32 andkey pad may be used to operate the web-browser.

During certain game events, the gaming machine 2 may display visual andauditory effects that can be perceived by the player. These effects addto the excitement of a game, which makes a player more likely tocontinue playing. Auditory effects include various sounds that areprojected by the speakers 10, 12, 14. Visual effects include flashinglights, strobing lights or other patterns displayed from lights on thegaming machine 2 or from lights behind the belly glass 40. After theplayer has completed a game, the player may receive game tokens from thecoin tray 38 or the ticket 20 from the printer 18, which may be used forfurther games or to redeem a prize. Further, the player may receive aticket 20 for food, merchandise, or games from the printer 18. In someembodiments, the tickets may be used by a game player to obtainentertainment content. A ticket, for instance, may be printed with a“free movie” that allows a player to access a movie from the gamingmachine that printed the ticket or another gaming machine.

Some advantages of providing gaming machines with the entertainmentcontent choices described above are 1) increasing a player's interest inutilizing a gaming machine for longer periods of time and 2) providingmore revenue generating uses for the gaming machine. Both of theseadvantages increase the potential profits which may be obtained from agaming machine. In addition, any entertainment content services whichattract a player to utilize a gaming machine, even activities that donot directly involve game playing, may indirectly increase gamingmachine revenues because once a player is utilizing a gaming machine forany function the probability that a game playing session or otherrevenue generating activity will be initiated on the gaming machine isgreatly increased.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a plurality of gaming machines, 245, 250and 255, connected to an entertainment content network 225. Gamingmachines 245, 250 and 255 are connected in a gaming machine loop 260 ona casino floor. The gaming machine loop 260 may be a series of fiberoptic connections between the gaming machines or some other wire orwireless connection scheme. These gaming machines may be physicallyproximate to one another on the casino floor or spread out over thecasino floor.

Gaming machines 245, 250, 255 and 256 are illustrated with differentcombinations of entertainment content and game presentations on the mainvideo display screen 34 and secondary video display screen 42. Forexample, on gaming machine 245, a game presentation 290 is displayed onthe main display screen 34 and advertising entertainment content 280 isdisplayed on the secondary display 42. In another embodiment, a picturein a picture display 257 is implemented on the main display screen 34 ongaming machine 256. As described with reference to FIG. 1, a player mayoperate the input switches 32 to make game decisions and adjust featuresof the entertainment content.

On gaming machine 250, a content list 265 of entertainment contentsources is displayed on the secondary video screen 42 while a movie isdisplayed on the main display screen 34. In one embodiment, the contentlist 265 of entertainment content sources may include devices orsoftware such as a CD player, an FM/AM tuner, a VHS player, a DVDplayer, a TV tuner, a musical jukebox, a video jukebox, a computer, aserver and a media software application. The entertainment contentsource maybe located physically within the gaming machine or at alocation outside of the gaming machine but in communication with thegaming machine.

The content list 265 may be presented as a series of menus. For example,after selecting the DVD player as the entertainment content source fromthe content list 265, the content list 265 may display a list of DVDtitles, which the player may select for viewing on the gaming machine.Further, the entertainment content list 265 may be personalized to theindividual player. The entertainment content list, for instance, maydisplay DVD titles that are of particular interest to a game player.

In general, the entertainment content source may be any device capableof delivering entertainment content to the gaming machine. Theentertainment content source may be adapted for use by a gaming machineand may operate only during selected operational modes of the gamingmachine. By way of example, when the DVD player is utilized by thegaming machine as an entertainment content source, the DVD player may beadapted to respond to input signals from the gaming machine such aspause or stop. The input signals to the DVD player may be initiated bythe master gaming controller on the gaming machine independently ofplayer input or in response to player input. When a gaming machine isnot used for a certain period of time, for example, the master gamingcontroller may transmit signals to the DVD player to obtain outputsignals for at least one of the video display screens on the gamingmachine.

To access an entertainment content source on the gaming machines 245,250 255 and 256, a player may be required to input an indicia of creditamount for the selected entertainment content source or commit anindicia of credit already available on the gaming machine. The gamingmachine may notify the player of the required amount by displaying amessage of some type to the player. For example, after a player hasselected a video jukebox as the entertainment source, the gaming machinemay display a message such as “please deposit 5 credits” or “theselected entertainment content source requires 5 credits, hit button Ato commit this amount.” The entertainment content source will then beinitiated when the required funds have been made available to the gamingmachine. In this manner, a player may access an entertainment contentsource without initiating game play on the gaming machine i.e. by makinga wager on a game.

In other embodiments, the entertainment content source may be accessedaccording to; 1) a wager amount made on a single game play (as describedabove); 2) an average wager amount over a period of time made by theplayer; and 3) a game playing history of the player obtained from playertracking information or some other source. For instance, after enteringplayer tracking information on the gaming machine, a player that haswagered a certain amount over a certain period of time may be grantedfree access to an entertainment content source such as the musicaljukebox. In another example, a player may only access certainentertainment content sources based upon their player trackinginformation i.e. only a player with a particular game playing historymay be able to access electronic e-mail on the gaming machine.

For each of the access modes to the entertainment content sourcesdescribed above (e.g. inserting a required amount of indicia of creditinto the gaming machine to access the entertainment content source,making a wager of a certain amount or a game playing history obtainedfrom player tracking information), a total access time to theentertainment content source may be determined by the master gamingcontroller on the gaming machine. A table may be stored in internalmemory on the gaming machine relating: 1) the required indicia of creditamount or fee; 2) the amount of a wager made on a game play; and 3) agame playing history events versus access to a particular entertainmentcontent source for an amount of time (e.g. total access time). Forexample, for 2 credits, a player may access an in-house TV programmingsource for 5 minutes. For a wager of 5 credits on a game play, theplayer may access the in-house TV programming source for 5 minutes. Forwagering 100 credits over a period of 3 hours, the player may access thein-house TV programming source for 5 minutes. After access to anentertainment content source has been initiated and a total access timehas been determined, the master gaming controller may monitor the amountof time the entertainment content source has been accessed against thedetermined total access time. When the amount of time the entertainmentcontent source has been accessed exceeds the granted total access time,access to the entertainment content source may be terminated unless aplayer performs another operation such as committing more credits on thegaming machine towards access to the entertainment content source.

After receiving an entertainment source selection satisfying thepredetermined conditions required to access the entertainment contentsource and determining a total access time to the entertainment contentsource, the entertainment content is transmitted to an output device onthe gaming machine. For example, upon receiving a selection of a movietitle by a player, the DVD player may transmit video signals to one ofthe display screens on the gaming machine or to a head mounted displayworn by the player. The corresponding audio signals from the DVD playermay be sent to speakers on the gaming machine or to headphones worn bythe player. Typically, the output from the entertainment content sourcemay not depend on the game play on the gaming machine e.g. game playdecisions made by the player while playing the gaming machine may notaffect output from the entertainment content source.

On the gaming machine 250, the movie display 275, displayed on the mainvideo display screen 34, occupies nearly the entire screen. In thisembodiment, the player at the gaming machine may be only viewing a movieand not engaged in any game play. In another example, the player may bepreviewing movies, which may be selected as a prize for the game playedon the gaming machine 255. Thus, after previewing the movies, the playermay engage in game play. In general, the gaming features andentertainment content features available on gaming machines allow manydifferent sequences of game play and entertainment content utilizationby the player. Game play and entertainment content utilization by theplayer may occur in a simultaneous manner or in a sequential.

Referring now to gaming machine 255, a web browser 296 connected to theWorld Wide Web or some other information network is displayed on thesecondary display screen 42. As an example, the web browser may be usedto obtain information from the World Wide Web, receive electronic mailor perform other information services available through the Internet,Intranet or other network. The main display screen 34 may be a splitwindow of three parts: 1) a game presentation 290; 2) a broadcast event284 i.e. entertainment content; and 3) touch screen controls 282. Thegame presentation 290 may be used to play a game on the gaming machinewhere the touch screen controls 282 and the input switches 32 are usedto control game inputs. The broadcast event 284 may be televisionprogramming or a sporting event. The television programming or thesporting event may be obtained from sources generally available to thepublic (e.g. broadcast events) or may be in-house or special programming(e.g. pay per view). The mechanisms for supplying the entertainmentcontent to the gaming machine 255 are described in more detail withrespect to FIG. 3.

For World Wide Web and electronic mail applications as describe abovewhere the gaming machine may be connected to some entity via theInternet 230 or some other network, access to the gaming machine may belimited by an internal firewall within the gaming machine. The internalfirewall may be hardware, software or combinations of both that preventillegal access of the gaming machine by an outside entity connected tothe gaming machine. For instance, an illegal access may be an attempt toplant a program in the gaming machine that alters the operation of thegaming machine from a World Wide Web site. The internal firewall isdesigned to prevent someone such as a hacker from gaining illegal accessto the gaming machine and tampering with it in some manner. The gamingmachines 245, 250, 255 and 260 may contain internal firewalls.

The touch screen controls 282 and input switches 32 may be used tooperate features of the entertainment content or perform game play onthe gaming machine. For example, the touch screen controls 282 may beused to utilize features of the web browser 296, to change thetelevision programming content (e.g. change channels) or to initiategame play on the gaming machine. The displayed features of the touchscreen controls 282 may change according to what features of theentertainment content or the gaming machine are being utilized. Forinstance, when television programming is being viewed on the displayscreen, then features that allow a player to adjust the volume or changethe channel may be displayed on the touch screen. When a movie or amusical selection is being displayed on the display screen, thenfeatures that enable a player to adjust the volume, change the channel,forward, reverse, stop or pause may be displayed on the display screen.When a player utilizes the touch screen controls 282 or the inputswitches 32, input signals indicating a particular operation are sent tothe master gaming controller within the gaming machine and the operationmay be performed. For example, when a player hits a button to fastforward a movie, then the gaming machine directs the entertainmentcontent source (i.e. DVD player) to perform the operation.

As previously mentioned, the gaming machines 245, 250, 255 are connectedto an entertainment service network 225 and may communicate with otherdevices on this network. This entertainment service network 225 mayoffer entertainment content and other services to connected gaming. Thenetwork may utilize any suitable protocol or group of protocols such asUSB, Ethernet, TCP/IP and the like for intercommunication. Examples ofdevices that may reside on this network include an entertainment server200 containing entertainment content sources (e.g. a CD player, an FM/AMtuner, a VHS player, a DVD player, a TV tuner, a musical jukebox, avideo jukebox, a computer, a server, a media software applications andthe like), a prize server 215, a casino services server 220, a playertracking server 210, and a player coordination server 226.

The entertainment service network 225 may be comprised of fiber opticconnections, copper Ethernet connections, wire-less connections or anycombinations thereof of the three types of connections. Theentertainment service network 225 may be a local area network usuallylocated within one location such as a casino including a casino areanetwork, a bonus game network, or a cashless system network. Inaddition, the entertainment service network 225 may be connected to awide area network connecting many physical locations such as a wide areaprogressive network or the Internet 230. Network A 235 and Network B 240are examples of wide area networks or other entertainment servicenetworks which may be connected to the entertainment service network 225via the Internet 230 or some other like network connection scheme. Forexample, Network A 235 may be a wide area progressive network andNetwork B 240 may be an entertainment service network at another casino.

In one embodiment of the present invention, after a player enters playertracking information (e.g. using the card reader 24 or some other inputdevice) and the player tracking information is sent to the playertracking server 210, the player tracking server 210 may examine aplayer's information profile stored on the player tracking server 210.The information profile may contain information regarding a player'spast game playing habits and past entertainment content utilization.Applying software that evaluates the information profile, the playertracking server 210 may transmit instructions to the gaming machine todisplay entertainment content of particular interest to a game playerplaying a game on the gaming machine. For example, the gaming machinemay display advertisements, news, stock quotes, electronic mailmessages, movie selections, musical selections and broadcast events ofinterest to the player playing the game on the gaming machine. Bypersonalizing the messages sent to a player playing a game on the gamingmachine, the player may be encouraged to increase the amount of theirgame play on the gaming machine.

In general, personalized entertainment content, personalized messagesand personalized services on a gaming machine may be implemented withoutthe player tracking server 210. As described with reference to FIG. 1, aplayer may enter identification information on the gaming machine. Theidentification information may be independent of the player trackinginformation or share elements of the player tracking information. Afterthe gaming machine receives the identification information, the gamingmachine may send the identification information to a server includingthe player coordination server 226. The player coordination server mayassign a communication identifier to the gaming machine. For example,when the player coordination server 226 and the gaming machines 245, 250and 255 use a TCP/IP communication protocol, the gaming machines may beassigned an IP address when a player enters identification informationinto the gaming machine.

Using the IP address and an appropriate communication protocol, personalmessages may be sent to a gaming machine from different informationsources located outside the gaming machine for a particular playerplaying utilizing the gaming machine. A restaurant employee (e.g. theinformation source), for example, may send a personal message in theform of e-mail or some other electronic message to a player playing agame on the a gaming machine indicating a dinner reservation is ready.The process may include: 1) a restaurant employee typing a messageindicating the reservation is ready into a computer; 2) the computersending the message to the casino services server 220; 3) the casinoservice server 220 sending a message to the player coordination server226 requesting the IP address of the gaming machine or othercommunication identifier of the gaming machine where the player islocated; 4) the player coordination server 226 establishing acommunication link between the casino server and the gaming machineincluding 245, 250 and 255; and 5) the casino server 220 sending amessage to one of the gaming machines 245, 250, and 255. In addition,advertisements or news of particular interest to a player based on aplayer's information profile stored on the player coordination server226 may be sent to the player. In this example, the player coordinationserver 226 essentially functions as a message router. Message routingtechnology that may perform some of these functions is available fromCISCO Technologies, San Jose, Calif.

In other embodiments, voice messages or electronic messages may be sentto a first player on a gaming machine from a hotel/casino employeeperforming a hotel/casino service and from a second player on adifferent gaming machine attempting to locate or communicate with thefirst player. The voice messages may be implemented using a Voice overIP technology available from CISCO Technologies, San Jose, Calif. Inaddition, a player on the gaming machines may receive the personalmessage from an entertainment content source being utilized as theinformation source. For example, the information source may be selectedfrom the group consisting of the CD player, the FM/AM tuner, the VHSplayer, the DVD player, the TV tuner, the musical jukebox, the videojukebox, the computer, the server or the media software application. Theentertainment content from the information source may be personalized tosustain the player's interest in utilizing the gaming machine. Forinstance, musical selections from a musical jukebox may be sent to thegaming machine based upon a player profile stored within the playercoordination server 226 or targeted advertising, which may only be ofinterest to select players, may be sent to a select player based upontheir player profile stored within the player coordination server 226.

After the gaming machine receives the personal message from theinformation source, the gaming machine outputs the personal message toan output device appropriate for the message. For example, an electronicmail messages, stock quotes, news, prize information or advertisementsof interest to the player playing the game on the gaming machine may bedisplayed on the monitor, the LCD, the florescent display on the gamingmachine. In addition, these visual messages may be output to a personaldigital assistant, a pager, cell phone or the head-mounted video displaycarried or worn by the player. An audio message for the player may beoutput to a sound projection device on the gaming machine, headphonesworn by the player or a cell phone carried by the player.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a gaming machine having a top box 6 andother internal components. As described with reference to FIG. 1, thegaming machine 2 includes a main cabinet 4 and the top box 6 located ontop of the main cabinet. The secondary display 42, the main display 34,audio signal processor 334, a video signal processor 336, hard drive332, audio/video output 342, CD-DVD drive 330 and main communicationboard 310 are connected to the master gaming controller 324. The mastergaming controller 324 controls the presentation of games on the gamingmachine and may control the operation of entertainment content sourcesconnected to the gaming machine.

The audio signal processor 334 and the video signal processors 336 maybe media software applications designed to process digital signalsstored on the hard drive 332 or received from the CD-DVD drive 330. Forexample, the entertainment partition 328 of the hard drive may containaudio files stored in an MP-3 format or video files stored in an MPEGformat. The audio signal processor 334 and video signal processor 336may be media software applications residing in memory accessible to themaster gaming controller 324. Examples of media software applicationsmay include audio players, image viewers, movie players and a webbrowser. Typically, the audio processors and video signal processorinclude a number of hardware components. A more complete discussion ofthe use of hardware components used for multimedia application on agaming machine is provided in commonly assigned, copending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 08/911,254 entitled GAMING MACHINES PROVIDING BONUSGAMES filed 8/08/97, the entire specification of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

The media software applications may operate on the audio and video filesstored on the hard drive enabling video or audio signals to be output toan output device on the gaming machine. In addition, the audio signalsand video signals may be output to the output devices residing outsideof the gaming machine via the audio/visual output 342. For example, aheadphone jack allowing a player to plug in a set of headphones intogaming machine may be one component of the audio/visual output 342. Asanother example, the audio/visual output may contain a wirelessinterface allowing the gaming machine to communicate with output devicesnot physically connected to the gaming machine including pagers, cellphones and personal digital assistants.

The audio and video files may be down-loaded to the gaming machine viathe CD-DVD drive 330 and stored in the entertainment partition of thehard drive 322. In addition audio/video files or feeds (e.g. atelevision program feed containing various audio/video signals) may besent to the gaming machine 2 via the remote feed 314 and the maincommunication board 310 connected to the master gaming controller. Theaudio and the video signals may be processed by the audio signalprocessor 334 and the video signal processor 336. For example, theentertainment server, as described with reference to FIG. 2, may containthe video jukebox, the audio jukebox, and the television programmingthat is accessible to the gaming machine 2 over the entertainmentservice network. A player utilizing the gaming machine may makeselections from the video jukebox and the audio jukebox on theentertainment server from a list of selections displayed on the gamingmachine.

Turning now to FIG. 4, a flow chart depicts method for providingentertainment content independent of the game outcome presentation on agaming machine. In 400, a list including at least one entertainmentcontent source is displayed on an output device on the gaming machine.The entertainment content source may reside physically within the gamingmachine or at a physical location separate from the gaming machine. In410, the gaming machine receives a selection of the entertainmentcontent source from the list displayed in 400. To access theentertainment content source, a player may have to deposit credits intothe gaming machines or satisfy some other predetermined conditionsbefore entertainment content from the entertainment content source isoutput from the gaming machine. Further, access to the entertainmentcontent source may be independent of game play on the gaming machine. In420, entertainment content from an entertainment source is output to anoutput device on the gaming machine. The output device may include avideo display screen, audio projection device and the like residing onthe gaming machine or a cell phone, pager and personal digital assistantseparate from the gaming machine. The entertainment content from theentertainment content source may be accessed by the player while theplayer is involved with at least one game play on the gaming machine.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart depicting a method for sending a personal messageto a player playing a game on the gaming machine. In 500, the gamingmachine receives identification information from the player playing thegame on the gaming machine. The identification information mayindependent of player tracking information entered by the player. In510, the identification information is sent to a server in communicationwith the gaming machine. In response to the communication from thegaming machine, the server assigns the gaming machine a communicationidentifier which may be an IP address when an Internet communicationprotocol is being used between the gaming machine and the server in 520.In 530, the server may act as a router of information between the gamingmachine and some information source located outside the gaming machine.For example, a first player on a first gaming machine may send a secondplayer on a second gaming machine a message. In 530, when the gamingmachine receives a message, the message is sent to an output device onthe gaming machine. For example, an e-mail message for the player may besent to a video screen on the gaming machine for access by the player.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart depicting a method for enhancing player intereston a gaming machine by providing entertainment content. The gamingmachine may provide game outcome presentations and entertainment contentwhere the entertainment content is independent of the game outcomepresentation. In 600, one or more player predetermined conditions aplayer must satisfy to access the entertainment content on the gamingmachine are presented to the player. As described above, a playerpredetermined condition may include actions such as depositing moneyinto the gaming machine or making a wager on a game where the wager isabove some threshold amount. In 610, when at least one of thepredetermined conditions is satisfied, the entertainment content may beoutput to an output device.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail forpurposes of clarity of understanding, it will be apparent that certainchanges and modifications may be practiced within the scope of theappended claims. For instance, while the gaming machines of thisinvention have been depicted as having top box mounted on top of themain gaming machine cabinet, the use of gaming devices in accordancewith this invention is not so limited. For example, gaming machine maybe provided without a top box.

1. A method of providing entertainment content on a gaming machine, themethod comprising: receiving an input of cash or an indicia of credit;receiving a wager on a game of chance using said cash or said indicia ofcredit; displaying the game of chance on a display on the gamingmachine; receiving an input of a ticket voucher valid for entertainmentcontent available on the gaming machine; redeeming the ticket voucher;and outputting the entertainment content redeemed using the ticketvoucher to an output device on the gaming machine.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the entertainment content is output while the game ofchance is displayed on the gaming machine.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein a specific type of entertainment content is specified on theticket voucher and wherein the ticket voucher is redeemable only for thespecific type of entertainment content.
 4. The method of claim 3,wherein the entertainment content specified on the ticket voucher isselected from the group consisting of an advertisement, news, stockquotes, electronic mail, a web page, a message service, a locatorservice or a hotel/casino service, a movie, a musical selection and abroadcast event.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: afterredeeming the ticket voucher, displaying a list of one or moreentertainment content sources; receiving a selection of theentertainment content source from said list.
 6. The method of claim 1,further comprising: printing a first ticket voucher redeemable forentertainment content on the gaming machine or another gaming machine.7. The method of claim 1, wherein the entertainment content is selectedfrom the group consisting of an advertisement, news, stock quotes,electronic mail, a web page, a message service, a locator service or ahotel/casino service, a movie, a musical selection and a broadcastevent.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the output device is selectedfrom the group consisting of a sound projection device, a monitor, anLCD, a fluorescent display, a pair of headphones, a head-mounted videodisplay, a personal digital assistant, a pager, and a cell phone.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the game of chance is a video slot game, amechanical slot game, a pachinko game, a video poker game or a kenogame.
 10. A method of providing entertainment content on a gamingmachine, the method comprising: receiving an input of cash or an indiciaof credit; receiving a wager on a game of chance using said cash or saidindicia of credit; displaying the game of chance on a display on thegaming machine; determining an award of entertainment content; andprinting a ticket voucher redeemable for the award of the entertainmentcontent wherein ticket voucher is redeemable on the gaming machine oranother gaming machine.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:receiving an input of a ticket voucher valid for entertainment contentavailable on the gaming machine; redeeming the ticket voucher; andoutputting the entertainment content redeemed using the ticket voucherto an output device on the gaming machine.
 12. The method of claim 10,wherein the entertainment content is selected from the group consistingof an advertisement, news, stock quotes, electronic mail, a web page, amessage service, a locator service or a hotel/casino service, a movie, amusical selection and a broadcast event.
 13. The method of claim 10,wherein the game of chance is a video slot game, a mechanical slot game,a pachinko game, a video poker game or a keno game.
 14. The method ofclaim 10, wherein the entertainment content is personalized to apreference of a particular game player.
 15. A system of gaming machines,said system comprising: a plurality of gaming machines, each gamingmachine comprising: a display device coupled to a main cabinet of thegaming machine; a master gaming controller designed or configured tocontrol a game of chance played on the gaming machine and to present agame outcome presentation for the game of chance on the display device;an input device for receiving a printed ticket voucher redeemable forentertainment content; an output device configured to output theentertainment content to an entertainment content source; a printer forprinting the printed ticket voucher redeemable for the entertainmentcontent; and a network interface for connecting to a network; thenetwork linking said plurality of gaming machines.
 16. The system ofclaim 15, further comprising: an entertainment content server forproviding entertainment content to the plurality of gaming machines. 17.The system of claim 15, wherein the gaming machine is further designedor configured to determine an award of entertainment content; and toprint a ticket voucher redeemable for the award of the entertainmentcontent wherein the entertainment content is redeemable on the gamingmachines.
 18. The system of claim 15, wherein a specific type ofentertainment content is specified on the ticket voucher and wherein theticket voucher is redeemable only for the specific type of entertainmentcontent.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the entertainment contentspecified on the ticket voucher is selected from the group consisting ofan advertisement, news, stock quotes, electronic mail, a web page, amessage service, a locator service or a hotel/casino service, a movie, amusical selection and a broadcast event.
 20. The system of claim 15,wherein the entertainment content specified on the ticket voucher isselected from the group consisting of an advertisement, news, stockquotes, electronic mail, a web page, a message service, a locatorservice or a hotel/casino service, a movie, a musical selection and abroadcast event.
 21. The system of claim 15, wherein the entertainmentcontent is personalized to a preference of a particular game player. 22.The system of claim 15, wherein the output device is selected from thegroup consisting of a sound projection device, a monitor, an LCD, afluorescent display, a pair of headphones, a head-mounted video display,a personal digital assistant, a pager, and a cell phone.
 23. The systemof claim 15, wherein the game of chance is a video slot game, amechanical slot game, a pachinko game, a video poker game or a kenogame.
 24. The system of claim 15, wherein the input device is a billvalidator.